Short Stories

Meddling kids

In a miniscule rural village in post-world war 2 Trinidad, there were the legends of Trinidad folklore such as La Diablesse, Papa Bois and the Soucouyant. Many, if not all of the inhabitants of the village named San Souci believed this. Along with such legends, there is a strange phenomenon called "obeah" which the villagers believed the Henry family, who lived just outside the village, dealt with, however no one dared to meddle.

Three young orphan boys who grew up hearing and believing these stories were curious and as the saying goes, "curiousity killed the cat." The boys, one aged 16 who was named Avdol, was the craftiest of the lot and would often protect his younger friends. The second, aged 15, Jean, was the bravest of the lot and most ambitious. The third, also aged 15 nicknamed Iggy, was the most stubborn of the lot but he also had his good virtues. Iggy also claimed that he witnessed bizarre phenomena on his ventures outside of the village such as shadows and odd noises.

The group readied themselves with slingshots and Avdol, believing in God, entrusted Jean with the teachings of God as well as carried his holy rosary. The boys ventured out on their short yet perilous quest. Upon approaching the house Avdol gulped, Jean was wondering who or what lurked inside and Iggy wanted to hurry up and enter. The three curious boys entered without a word and were confused as they stumbled upon a deserted house. One simultaneous question arose. Where was the Henry family?

Suddenly a loud crack of thunder struck the house and the faint sounds of "who dares to enter my domain?". Iggy, being the only one who heard this, began going up the creaky stairs in an almost hypnotic like trance, to the other boys' dismay. They kept insisting he return downstairs and as soon as he arrived upstairs, there was an instant flash of darkness and Iggy disappeared.

Avdol and Jean, though flustered, decided they had to journey upstairs to search for Iggy despite the imminent danger. Using a torch and a lighter, the two boys journeyed deeper into the depressing darkness only to hear screams and encounter a foul scent as well as bats. A door slowly creaked open revealing the skeletons of the entire Henry family! The boys were in sheer fright, but Jean realised a skeleton was missing as it was known to have four members of of the family but only three skeletons.

Jean, contemplating on what occurred, failed to see the instant where Avdol was assaulted by an ominous shadow. However, he quickly shined his torch and it was revealed to be a monstrous figure, bathed in blood! The monstrous figure attacked Avdol who tried to fend it off to no avail. With Avdol's dying words, he gave Jean the rosary which Jean used to fight off the monster, destroying it.

Jean fled the house, dropping his lit torch and lighter, thus escaping, burning down the house and all evidence. Jean reached the village and told nobody what he encountered fearing that none would believe him. Iggy and Avdol, being orphans, were forgotten by the villagers easily but not by Jean. No one knew the true story of the secret of the Henry family and as a result to this day people are still unsure about what actually happened to the Henry family who lived just outside the village.